The Effects of Achillea millefolium inflorescences extract on apoptotic changes in Mice

Objective: Achillea millefolium Inflorescences (AMI) is one of the oldest and most well-known medicinal plants with potential antioxidant properties. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of AMI in three different doses on apoptotic changes using Annexin V–binding method for the detection of membrane phosphatidylserine translocation. Material & Methods: Twenty four male adult NMRI mice, aged 6-8 weeks, were randomly arranged into 4 groups. Group 1 received normal Saline (0.1 ml/kg), group 2 received extract of AMI (75 mg/kg). Group 3 received extract of AMI (150 mg/kg). Group 4 received extract of AMI (300 mg/kg). Treatments were continued for 35 days. At the end, after mice euthanization by cervical dislocation, Caudaepididymis were used to collect sperm cells and rate of Annexin V-positive (ANV+) cells were examined by Annexin V Staining. Statistical analyses were performed using ANOVA and Tukey test. Results: In the groups receiving low and medium doses of AMI, rate of Annexin V-positive (ANV+) cells was reduced, but not significantly compared to the control group. But high dose of extract significantly increased apoptosis in comparison with that of control group (P<0/01). Conclusion: In this study, AMI has dose-dependent manner, so that at low and medium doses did not revealed significant effect, but high-dose of AMI caused a significantly remarkable increase in rate of Annexin V-positive (ANV+) cells.

Achillea millefolium, Apoptotic changes, Annexin V, Antioxidant, mice.